The Rhinebeck Sheep & Wool Festival is one of my favorite things to do and it’s not just the abundance of yarn and all things wild and woolly, although that is wonderful (if not overwhelming).
This year I went with my friend Robbie. I love the pageantry of knitwear. Everyone wears their knitted finest. I was wearing a (soon to be published) brioche infinity scarf knit with 7th Floor Yarns DK. Robbie was wearing (my) Read Between the Lines scarf in Farmer’s Daughter Foxy Lady.
It’s a great opportunity for me as a designer/teacher to see what people are trending towards. So what was trending, you ask? Color work (fair isle and mosaic), cables, and brioche.
I love how “yarny” people just start chatting with strangers about what each other are wearing and connect. They are friendly and helpful to one another.
I love the tapestry of fall foliage – it is my favorite time of year.
I have my food faves. Must haves on my list are an apple crisp accompanied by a Chai Tea Latte. This was my mid-morning snack – a much needed sugar/caffeine infusion. For lunch I like a Gyro – this year they had eggplant fries with a garlic aioli mayo (need I say more?).
Usually I have a list of yarn that needs a pattern or patterns that need yarn. This year I have been consumed by our move south (Jupiter, FL) and some designs in progress. I went unprepared into the fray. Neither Robbie or I had a real plan. Except she was looking for the perfect plum (color, not fruit).
I am proud to say that we were relatively circumspect in our purchases. She took on the role usually played by my sister, Nancy, in not letting me buy anything I already had which included my usual colorways (anything with purple), hand cream, lip balm, or bags. She was just as tough. I had to satisfy myself with pictures.
Here is what I bought. I got 3 skeins of Timaru from Lisa Souza Yarns to knit the Ochre Cardigan by Ambah O’Brien. I am looking for lighter weight yarns for Florida. This yarn is 65% Merino and 35% Bamboo. The denim color will be a perfect neutral.
I love Into the Whirled yarns and found this skein which is the perfect embodiment of fall. It gives me great joy.
As Dragonfly Fibers is changing hands, I wanted a memento from their Farewell Tour. This color is called Aurora Borealis and also made me very happy. I joked that (for now) it is the next best thing to seeing them. Think of it as art imitating life.
My plan is to knit Artesian by Rosemary Hill (Romi). Maybe I’ll knit it up and wear it while I go in search of the Aurora Borealis.
It wouldn’t be the Sheep & Wool festival without the sheep! For that matter, we wouldn’t have the wonderful yarns we crave!
At one point in the sheep barn there was a cacophony of “baas“. Definitely a conversation in progress.
Here are links to patterns we liked:
Bonjour Hi by Espace Tricot.
Seascape Stole by Kieran Foley.
Acanthus by Brenda Patipa
Barnstable by Lisa Hannes
Intermission Wrap by Veronica Parsons
The Girl from the Grocery Store by Joji Locatelli. Robbie is making this for her cousin.
Impervious by Kim McBrien Evans
This sheep reminded me of Harry.
If you went to the festival, I’d love to know what you bought and your observations.
